Report: WWE Looks To Resume Live Programming Beginning SummerSlam Weekend
Starting with the go-home SmackDown...
When will WWE resume live broadcasts of their weekly TV shows? Based on one report, they're eyeing a date in the not too distant future.
WrestleVotes has reported that the current plan for WWE's programs is for the resumption of live programming, beginning with the SummerSlam go-home edition of SmackDown on Friday, August 21.
The weekend would continue with TakeOver on Saturday, SummerSlam on Sunday, and a live Raw on Monday night.
NXT TakeOver is confirmed for Orlando, but the location for the other three events (SummerSlam included) has not been finalized.
WrestleVotes has indicated that WWE intends to run the same location for SmackDown, SummerSlam, and Raw. Rumors at one point were that WWE was trying to get Atlantic City, NJ to host SummerSlam.
To this point during the pandemic, WWE had been taping several episodes of Raw, NXT, and SmackDown in a given day, generally two episodes. One would air later in the night, and the other the following week. This would mean less travel for the wrestlers and staff, as they would only have to make roundtrips every couple of weeks or so.
Written by Justin Henry
In addition to writing lists and commentaries for Cultaholic, Justin is also a features writer and interviewer for Fighting Spirit Magazine, and is co-author of the WWE-related book Titan Screwed: Lost Smiles, Stunners, and Screwjobs.